Fast-paced and full-bodied, Dating Down is for anyone that has ever fallen for an older bad boy. AKA: everyone. Stefanie Lyons perfectly captures the sizzle and pop poetry of an electric first love. I devoured this book in one swift, crush-worthy sitting.

— Kirsten Smith, author of The Geography of Girlhood and writer of Legally Blonde and 10 Things I Hate About You.

Stefanie Lyons’ Dating Down is not your typical tale of an upper-middle-class girl who falls for a rebellious older guy––it’s a story about navigating loss, insecurities and teenage cynicism to find a balance between romantic fantasy and making hard, adult decisions. It’s a fast, freefalling read that’s difficult to put down.

— Jessica Machado, Associate Editor at Rolling Stone

In gritty, lyrical, often heart-stopping verse, Lyons’ surefooted debut depicts a teen artist’s struggle to see the difference between need and love. A breathless, stay-up-all-night read.

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Synopsis:

When a good girl falls for a bad boy

She thought she loved him. She thought she could change him. She thought if she just believed in him enough, his cheating and his drugs and his lying would stop, and she'd be his and he'd be hers and they'd love each other forever.

But for Samantha Henderson, X--the boy she will not name--is trouble. He's older, edgier, bohemian . . . and when he starts paying attention to Sam, she can't resist him. Samantha's family and friends try to warn her, but still she stays with him, risking her future and everything that really matters.

As moody and vivid as it is captivating, Dating Down is told in scenes and bursts of poetry that create a story filled with hurt, healing, and hope.

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